Notification of Intent to Plan a New Distance Education Degree Program

THE PURPOSE OF ACADEMIC PROGRAM PLANNING: Planning a
distance education degree program provides an opportunity for an institution to
make the case for need and demand and for its ability to offer a quality
program.This notification, and the
planning activity to follow, do not guarantee that authorization to establish
will be granted.

Is
the institution offering its first credit courses via technology-based
instruction by which students can obtain at least 25% of credits toward a
degree program? (2)No

Is
the institution expanding a previously reported program from less than 50% of
credits to 50% or more of a degree program? (2)No

Is
the institution adding a significantly different program from previously
reported programs offered via technology-based instruction? (2)No

If this action
constitutes a substantive change, by what date should SACS be notified?N/A

1.Briefly describe the proposed program and intended audience.

The BSBA in Management Information Systems primarily focuses on the role that computers play in
human settings, either individual or organizational. ECU's MIS degree provides
a foundation for the analysis and design of information systems and the
knowledge of application software to develop business solutions.

The program will be delivered via the
Internet utilizing Blackboard as the course management system

3.Describe need for the program (referencing
results of surveys or special studies).If site-based, is any other institution (public or private) offering a
similar program in the location(s)?If
individual access, is any other UNC institution offering a similar individual
access program?

We have a number of students who want a more
specialized degree than our present online General Business concentration.
The online program is growing by about 20% per year with about 20 new requests
for information coming in each week. About 25% of these requests result
in enrollment in the program. We currently have more than 400 students
who will be declaring in some business field in the next two years. We
need additional programs just to manage them.

While a degree in Management is by far the most
sought after degree. The Management
Information Systems
Degree is both very lucrative in terms of starting salary and number of open
positions. Adding the MIS degree will provide our growing online
population with more choices and more equity with their on campus colleagues.